The government has increased the Social Pension Scheme allocation from fourteen million dollars to thirty seven million dollars.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa says the notable increase is a two fold increase for recipients

Vuniwaqa says the ministry has programs in place for this fiscal year in strengthening the ties between the government, the council and the advisory committees in the different divisions.

”We are really grateful that the government has considered as being one of the increases and it’s a notable increase from $50 to $100 per pensioner so I’m sure there will be a lot of happy pensioners out there come 1st August.”

All persons under the Social Pension Scheme will now receive $100 and the eligibility age has been lowered to 65 years.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation has been allocated $113.4 million dollars for its next financial year, an increase of $46.9 million dollars.